Burial vault



v.Iuly'21, 1931. J. scHAl-:FFER 1,815,526

BURIAL VAULT Filed March 12, 1929 2 SlleelZS-Shee`bv l gwoemtoz I.

MM f//vfsff July 21, 1931.

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BURIAL VAULT Filed March 12, 1929, 2 SheeLs--Sheml 2 Patented July 2l', 1931 UNITED` .STATES PATENT for-'F1cis:

` J' OHN SCHAEFFEB, 0F ENID, OKLAHOMA BURIAL 'VAUIII "Application sied March 12, 1929. serian No. 346,399.

The invention relates to burial vaults and has as its object to provide a device of this character which shall be moisture and insect proof, and which will last for ages.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings', in which,

F 1g. 1 isa perspective view showing a grave of which is placed a concrete` in the bottom y slab or pedestal, and into which grave a rough wooden box is being lowered; f

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the wooden box' placed uponA the pedestal and the top of the box removed; l Fig. 3 is likewise a perspective view of the grave, showing a casket placed within the wooden box and the top of the box" about to be replaced, and the whole covered by a metallic hood; l

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.V 3, in which the hood has been lowered into position over the wooden box;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the completed vault, showing the pedestal, wooden box and hood in place, and showing a reinforcing covering of concrete, and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of -`the removable bottom of the wooden box and a portionof a metallic sealso ing member which is secured to the under side of the bottom member and which is p'rovided with 11p-turned portions for'improving the vermin seal.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference numl eral 10 denotes the outline of a grave which,

is of such size as to receive the completed vault. In the bottom( of the grave is placedv a pedestal ,designated by the reference numeral 11, which pedestal is elongated in form and extends to, within a few inches of the sides and ends of the grave. ,This pedestal is cut away beneath, as at 12, so as to provide an air space intermediate the ends thereof, so that the pedestal will be'substantially elevated above the bottom ofthe grave. After the pedestal is in place, a rough wooden box 13 is lowered onto the pedestal. This box is provided with a removable top 14 and a removable base 15. A.t the bottom of the base member is a metal sheet 16 which is turned tached to the side members. A isnow ready to receive the up at its ends and sides over the bottom of the side members 18 of the Wooden box, such side members being cut away as at 19 to receive these upturned portions. This construction is clearly shown in Figs; 5 and 6. The metal 55 base is provided with a plurality of very small perforations 20 about the center of the base, which are intended to permit any liquids which may accumulate within the vault to escape. The perforations 20, while permitting liquids or ases todrain from the upper chamber, and w ile permittingthe equalizin of pressure between the upper chamber an the air spaces below the sealing member, are

nevertheless so small as to render the interior of the vault proof against vermin, such as ants, bugs, gophers, etc. The wooden base 15 is secured to the slde members by means ofscre'ws 22, which extend throughva rectangular frame member 21. Y 70 `When .the box has been lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2, the top 14 is removed and the screws 22 are likewise removed, so thatI the base 15 is no longer at- The rough boxv casket, which 1n Fig. 3 is represented by the numeral 23. After the casketfhas been set in place, the wooden top 14 of the rough box is replaced and secured. -A vmetallic hood 24 is. now 80 placed over the rough box in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This hood is composed preferably oi copper or other non-corrodible material, and is ordinarily of the same material as the. metal bottom 16, over which it tightly fits. It W1ll be noted that the lower portion 25 of the hood extends downwardly beyond the metal base 16, to the bottom of the grave, so that an air seal is formed which elfectively prevents access '90 of moisture into the interior of the vault, l while at the same time any moisture within the vault may drain from the same through perforations 20.- The metal base 16 forms y A a permanent seal against'insects, vermin or 95 the like, and being of non-corrodible matei rial will last forever. Likewise the hood itself will never corrode, and isV prevented from collapsing by the presence of the rough l box at the interior thereof. The rough box lo" itself, being eiectually sealed Jfrom moisture from the outside, will never rot, but will remain intact for an indefinite period. Likewise, the remains in the coifin 23 will be permanently preserved. The seams 26 of 'the hood member are'welded, preferably with a brass weld, so that the joints are permanent and will never corrode.

The size of the grave is such that the hood 24, after being lowered into position, 1s

spaced several inches on each side from the walls of the grave. To protect the hood against injuryl and to form a rigid, enduring construction, an outer casingof concrete 27 is poured around the edges, sides and top of the hood.v Preferably the concrete is ,reinforced by means of rods 28, or other like reinforcing material,.similar reinforcing material being employed in the" pedestal 1l. The whole is then covered with earth and the vault and contents will remain intact for ages. If for any reason it is desirable to remove the remains, this may be done by lift"-r ing the concrete casing, hood and rough box, except the bottom, bodily from the grave by means of derricks or the like. The casket 23 may then be lifted from the base 15. This is possible, due to the fact that the base had been unscrewed from the sides of the box after the box was placed upon the pedestal in the step referred to in connection with the description of Fig. 2. L

The various elements of my device cooperate to form an improved article,which is practically everlasting, and which will be moisture and insect proof. The function of the pedestal is to'space the casket substantially above the bottom of the grave. By the use of the metallic bottom sealing member 16, which cooperates with the' metal hood 24, an effective vermin seal is formed. The air seal prevents water from reaching the interior. Even though water were to leak into the bottom of the grave, such water would only serve t'o increase the air pressure ywithin the vault and to increase the eliectiveness of the seal. If the base member 16 were made of any material other than cop,- per or like non-corrodible substance, such base would deteriorate in the course of time and would` permit insects, vermin and the like to enter from the bottom. Likewise the hood, if made of material other than copper or the like would deteriorate in the course of time, even though covered by the outer con* crete casing, as lit is well known that concrete permits some moisture to pass through.

\ If no metal hood were employed, it is obvious that the moisture could leak through the walls of the concrete and would eventually rot away the' rough wooden box 13. The function of the wooden box in the present case is not to protect the remains from moisture, this function being performed by the metal hood, but instead to brace the hood and to prevent the same from collapsing. By the use of this bracing material, a very thin hood may be employed, thus substantially reducing the cost of the material used. Thus it ^will be seen that all the parts of my invention cooperate with each other to form an, improved whole.

What is claimed is:

1. A burial vault comprising a pedestal to be placed in the bottom of a grave, a box supported on said pedestal and adapted to receive a cofiin, a perforated metal sealing member interposed between the bottom of the box andthe pedestal, a metal hood removably placed over thefbox, tightly fitting over the sealing member and extending below the sealing member .to the bottom of the grave, leaving an air space between the bottom of the grave and the sealing member, extending around and under the pedestal, and a masonry covering for said hood.`

tightly fitting over the sealing member and extending to the bottom of the grave.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.v

f JOHN SCHAEFFER.

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